Food grinder having a perforated disc, a presser plate, and a rotary knife



April E. v. TAYLOR FOOD GRINDER HAVING A PERFQRATED DISC,

A PRESSER PLATE, AND A ROTARY KNIFE Flled March 22, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

EUGENE I. TAYLOR April 1948- E. v. TAYLOR FOOD GRINDER HAVING A PERFORATED DISC, A PRESSER PLATE,' AND A RQTARY KNIFE v. Filed March 22, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 065: K TAYLOR H: BY g I I I E. V. TAYLOR NDER HAVING A PERFORATED DIS FOOD GRI A PRESSEH PLATE, AND A ROTARY KNIF Filed March 22, 1946 April 6, 1948.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Ill/Ill] III II Patented Apr. 6, 1948 FOOD GRINDER HAVING A PERFORATED DISC, A PRESSER PLATE, AND A ROTARY KNIFE I Eugene V. Taylor, Chicago, Ill. Application March 22, 1946, Serial No. 656,322

' claims. (01. 146-192) 1 My. invention relates, generally, to apparatus for processing food stuff and has particular relation to choppers for meat, vegetables and the like. The object of my invention, generally stated,

is to provide apparatus forprocessing food stuif which shall be simple and eilicient in operation,

readily cleaned, and which may be readily and economically manufactured and used. a 7

Another object is to so position the operating screw of a meat chopper or the like that it is not required to contact the food stufi being processed.

A further object is to move a pusher plateby a manually operable screw to force the food stuff in a hopper through a die and to cut the same as it emerges therefrom.

A still further object is to disengage the mechanical connection between the screw and pusher plate at or near the end of the inward stroke of the latter soas to permit withdrawal of the pusher plate from the hopper without requiring that the screw be operated in a reversed direction to eiiect the same. l .1

Another object is to provide a pressure resisting. aperture cover for an aperture through which the food stufiimay be introduced into the hopper. Still another. object is to non-uniformly space the blades of the cutter so as to distribute their cutting action and reduce the torque required 'to operate the same. l

l A further objectis toprovide both vertical and horizontal mountings for the hopper.

Another object is to provide for rolling the food stufi into and through the die.

Other objects of my invention will, in part, be obvious and in part appear hereinafter.

My invention is disclosed in the embodiments thereof shown in the accompanying drawings and it comprises the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangementof parts which will be exemplified in the constructions hereinafter set forth and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the appended claims.

For a more complete. understanding of the nature and scope of my invention reference may and the hopper and operating parts associated therewith being shown in section, the section being taken along the line l+l of Figure 2;

- shown 'in- Figure 1 H the line 6--6 ofFigure 1;

Figure 2 is a detail sectional view, taken along the line 22 of Figure 1; i

Figure 3=is adetail sectional view, of thehopper taken along the line 3- -3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a topplan view of the slide cover for the aperture in the pusher plate;

Figure 5 isaplan view-of an alternate form of knife which may be used in the construction Figure 6 is a detail sectional view takenalong Figure 7 is a detail sectional view taken along the line 1-1 of Figure 2; i

Figure 8 illustrates another embodiment of my invention, the support being shown in elevation while the hopper and parts operatively associated ame with the present invention by the apparatus disclo-sed herein, can be placed. The container 9 and the food processing; apparatus may be mounted on a suitable table top or a shelf,ind1'- cated at In. jaws l2 and I3 which are spaced apart. A screw clamp 14 is threaded in the'jaw I3 and cooperates with the jaw l2 for holding the support I I firmly to the table top or shelf 10. i

At its upper end the support H has a dove-tall portion l5 which has a double taper to cooperate with oppositely tapered dove-tailportions 16 of a hopper I! for holding the latterfirmly in place on the support ll while at the same time permitting ready removal thereof. The support ll may be formed of any suitable material such as a die casting while the hopper I1 is preferably formed of material which is unafiected by coming into contact with food stufi. For example, the hopper l'l'maybe formed of aluminum or similar material.

The hopper I! is preferably circular in shape and it has at its lower end a die l8 in which are provided a series of large apertures l9 and another series of small apertures 20, .asis more clearly shown in Figure 2 of the drawings. The die l8 may be held in place at the bottom of the hopper l! by a clampnut 2|.

In accordance with the presentinventionfood stufi, such as meat orthe like to be processed, is placed in the hopper ll. Asjwill appear here-.

A support ll isprovided having 3 ihafter, means are provided for pushing the contents of the hopper I! through the apertures 59 and in the die I8. As the food stuff emerges from these apertures it is cut to further comminute the same before it falls into the container 9. The apparatus for moving the food stuff through thehopper' l d. and cutting .the same is mounted on a shaft that is mounted for rotation about a vertical axis. Near its lower end the shaft 25 has a reduced bearing portion 2%- which interfits with a correspondingly shapedaperture in the die [8 and whichacts as a bear-- ing for the lower end of the shaft 25.

Just below the bearing portion 25 of the shaft 25 is a square section 21 which is arranged to receive a cutter or a knife ZB haVing' blades 29- radially extending therefrom. As shown more the threaded portion-46 so that it will be unnecessary-to; rotate the shaft 25 in a reversed direction as many times as it was rotated in a 7 forward direction in moving the pusher plate clearly in Figure 2, fourblades 23 are provided and they are symmetrically located and have suitablecutting edgesion severing the foodstuff as it emerges from the apertures,iagandlfl;

The: knife .28, isheldi-mplace onthe lower end of the shaft Zl'rabp'ag wing. 32.- At its upper endxth ShaftZZEixispmiI-ided with ahandle 33 which carries a'knobeilikiat its outer end that may be manually; grasped and; rotatedby the operator; 7 l r With a view to moving the-foodstuff in the hopper through the: sameand through the apertures l9 and 20 and the die In a pusher plate w35 iaprovideds The pusher plate 35* is generally circular in shapacorresponding to the inner peripherwofe theshopper: H, and it has a ipairfzofg radially; outwardly extending, bosses; 35 which: mterflt'withtslots' 3-11 in the hopper ll. Them shm plate,qfiaisathereby; guided inthe hopper} HI and; is; preventeda rotating relasponding shape-to ithe' aperture 31, is provided fOIiClOS-lflg thesame, Thecoyer 3Biswider in the radial dimensionathanis theaperture 31" so' that theflzedges thereofr'interfitwith; grooves 39 whichare: located; opposite each; other in the pusher pla 5+ lmwnamo ta. l ar yinl ia A pr eot extending; upwardly from the slide cover 385 permits-movement-gof; the same from and to the closed position.

' t w l beo servedathatithes de co 3%m0ves thezp her-plate i-ii Theoonstruction is aslide coven 3&;ser ves to apply presare e h t-feoiistufii in: th-ehopper H- the same I as; idoesther remainder of; the pusher plate 35. While t opus-her plate35 is illustrated as being recessed:- oni its underside and? the slide cover 3B: is; shown lastspacedisomewhat from the lower surface: theredf; ft -will be} understood, that if desired). thebottom of-vthie push-erp late-SE in contact, with-the: food;stufi can-be made to have-a plane surface and the slide cover 38 can be arranged; so; that it's; under, surface will be in this; same plane.

Extending upwardly frornl andintegrally forme'dxwith rthergpusher plate 35: is a tubular eXtension..4'4i .irr:-the bore :,of:w;hich is located the thre'aded"; upperfeirddfi-gofthe shaft 25; The upper end of the extension, 4 is internally threaded, and the threadedportion 36; of the shaft: cooperates therewithi throughout an extent;

sufficient to-=,cause-the pusher-platezw', on rotation of the handle 33, to move downwardly through thehopper IT.

For. this-purpose. and in order to facilitate the removal of this mechanical connection, instead lof prov iding the extension 44 with a solid inwith respect to the same, as indicated in Figure- 6; by spring wires 48': It-,wil1;be}. observed-what the thread-sectorsl,areradially vable throush suitableqopenings in the upper: end portion: of,

the extensi0n-- 44: and they are; arranged tobe: held in the positions there; shown by acapinutsdfis threaded on: theupper end; of;- the; eXtensionaM. As shown in the Figure '6,- ;thecap;nut-;;4-9 11854 -1 8:- cesses; 5}]; into which the :threadsegmerrtsi fl jca'n'. :beurge'd by; the springs 48 whenthenut; 49is rotatedfrom the position: there,- shown. through;

approximately 45. The recessesa vided with gradually sloping-inclines HYML'OHB:

end tofacilitate movementofthe thread'segnrerits 5 i, fronr and to, englagementavzi th then threaded. portiondirjofi thjershaft'; 25.; At other? ends: the recesses 53 have sharply; sloping:portionsiZ to; provide a; stop for limiting: the movement of? the; cap; nut 49-.

As previously described, the cutter-or. 28:

hasrarms; 29rwhich am: unifonn lyspacedu Thus,

. whe'iizfour: armsarei used ands'areevenlmspaced,

ployed and they can be non-uniformly spaced;

asfshownim EigureA'al lfoun arms-.ZSuare caused: to; engage the: emerging; food; stuff from. the die [Bi at the: sametime. This inereasesithetorque;

which; must be" applied to; the shaft zizinyorden to rotate the knife 28. With a vi'ewitolreduoing,

the torque required. the: cutter orv ikmfe Z'Si; ,as

shown in Figure, 5; may: beusedain lieueoirithe,

cutter or knife -fii-preyiouslys describeda. 7117- will be observed that the 'outterfor: knife 2&5 has cutter arms 29% extending therefromwhichlare non-uniformly. spaced, the; angle Xxbetweemtwo,

as-desired, so that only one armiatl a-ti-me-will cut, the food. stuff. emerging from the the UL Ihe embodiment. of the invention: described. hereinbefore and shown Figures I and 2 'oflthe.

drawings is arranged for: vertical mounting.

That is, the" shaft' 2'5"is mounted'so as to rotate the pusher plate 35 occupies the upper" mostposition. The slide cover 33 is moved to-the clo-sedposition; Thereafter,- the handl 33 is rotated to eause the pusher plate- 35 lie-move downwardly. The threaded portionJB fhas a left-hand thread to permitthis movement whenas viewed from the top. At the same time the cutter or knife 28 severs thefood stuff as it emerges from the openings l9 and 26 in the die l8. When the pusher plate'35 occupies its lower most position, substantially all of the food stuff has been expelled from the hopper II. All that remains is what is located in the apertures l9 and 20 of the die [8 and between the upper surface of the latter and the under surface of the pusher plate 35. As described hereinbefore, this under surface can be made substantially a plane surface so that all of the food stuff will be pushed out of the hopper l1 and only a relatively small amount will remain in the apertures l9 and 20 and the die [8. r

In Figures 8 and 9 of the drawings food processing apparatus arranged for horizontal operation is illustrated. As thereshown the reference character 60 designates a suitable shelf or table top for carrying a support 6|. Like the support H, the support 6| has jaws 62 and 63 integrally formed with and the screw clamp 64 cooperates with the latter jaw to clamp the support 6| to the table top 60 through thejaw 62.

A hopper 65 is carried at the upper end of the support 6|. Preferably suitable interlocking means are provided between the hopper 65 and the support 6|; such as the dove-tailed construction shown in Figure '7 and described hereinbefore, to permit readyremoval of the hopper 65 from the support 6|. They may be formed of different materials, as desired.

At its left hand end the hopper 65 carries a die 66, corresponding to the die l8 in Figure 2, and it is held in place by a clamp nut 61.

A horizontal shaft, 68 extends through the hopper 65. It has a reduced section 69 which interfits with a corresponding aperture in the die 66 and provides a bearing support for the same. At its other end the shaft 68 has a reduced section 78 that is rotatably mounted in a bearing II which, as shown, is carried by an extension 12 from the hopper 65.

At its left hand end the shaft 68 carries a cutter or knife on a squared shank 16. The cutter or knife 15 may be similar in construction to the knife 28 shown in Figures 1 and 2 or the knife 28' shown in Figure 5 and previously described. The cutter or knife 15 is held in place on the shaft 68 by a wing nut 11.

With a view to providing additional means for forcing the food stuff from the hopper 65 through the die 66 a pair of arms 18 is provided extending radially from the shaft 68. As shown in Figure 9 the arms 18 form the opposite ends of a single member which may be removably mounted on a squared shank portion 19 of the shaft 68 as each of the arms 18 carries a roller 80 the axis rotation of which is parallel to the corresponding arms 16. It will be understood that, when the shaft 68 is rotated, the rollers 80 serve to roll the food stuff immediately in front of the same into and through the apertures in the die 66.

Food stuff may be introduced into the hopper 65 through an aperture 83 in the top portion thereof. A semicircular slide cover 84 serves to close the aperture 83. An extension 85, integrally formed with the slide cover 84 facilitates gripping of the same between the thumb and fingers so as to permit movement of the slide cover 84 along the hopper 65.

As shown more clearly in Figure 9, the ends of the slide cover 84 terminate in apertured ears 86 which are arranged to interfit with and slide along rods 81 which are carried by the hopper 65.

There is provided a pusher plate 90 for movement through the hopperv 65 to pushthe food stuff therethrough. The pusher plate 90 is circular inshape and, ,as-shown in Figure 9, has integrally formed projections 9| for interfitting with grooves 92 in the inner periphery of the hopper 65. The projections 9| and the grooves 92 serve to prevent relative rotation between the pusher plate 96 and the hopper 65 while permitting relative longitudinal movement. therebetween. r

An extension 93, integrally formed with the pusher plate 96 serves to house in its bore 94 a threaded portion 95 of the shaft 68. The extension 93 carries an internally. threaded section 96 near its outer end for cooperating with the threaded portion 95 to move the pusher plate 96 through the hopper 65. If desired, the removeable thread construction, described hereinbefore and shown in Figures 1 and 6 of the drawings,

can be used in lieu of the threaded portion 96, as will be readily understood. 1

At its extreme right end the shaft. 68 is provided with a handle 91 which may be manually operated to turn the shaft 68.

The construction of the semicircular slide cover 84 and its support are such that when it is in the closed position, it is capable of resisting theoutward pressure applied thereto by the pusher plate as it moves the food stuff in the hopper 65 therethrough. If desired, theslide plate. may be arranged to be locatedso that its inner surface will coincide with the inner surface of the hopper 65 or the slide p1ate84 may be so arranged as tobe slidable entirely within the hope per 65. j I i 1 In both of the embodiments of the. invention shown in Figures 1 and 8 of thedrawings one end of the shaft is journaled in the die.. Ifdesired, separate support meanscan be provided for this purpose. Moreover, itis preferable to use the die for the bearing support since the number of parts required to be dismantled is thereby reduced. The other end of the shaft finds a bearing support in the tubular extension from the pusher plate. In both constructions, the feed screw is isolated from the hopper and thus is prevented from coming into contact with the food stuff. As a result, it is a simple matter to clean the threads of the feed screw since none of the food stuff can come in contact therewith.

It will be apparent that the supports shown in Figures 1 and 8 of the drawings can .be arranged for interchangeable mounting of other devices, such as juicers, power or manually operable mixers and the like. Thus a single support can be provided for several devices each ,of which is adapted to accommodate itself to. the dove-tail or equivalent mounting of the support.

Since other changes can be made in the foregoing constructions and different embodiments of the invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, it is intended that all matters shown in the accompanying drawings and described hereinbefore shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim as my invention:

1. Apparatus for processing food stuff, such as meat, comprising, in combination, a hopper for receiving the food stuff, a die at one end of the hopper through which the food stuff is pressed, a shaft rotatably mounted in said hopper and exposed to the interior thereof and extending through and beyond the other end thereof, the

portion of said shaft extendin irom said hopper being threaded. for. a distance about equal teithev length of'said hopper withthe: portion of said shaft. within said hopper being completely smooth, meansfor rotating said-shait,.a: knife carried by said 'fshaitiand'rctatable therewith ad'- jac'en't said die forxcutting sald-food stuff Las. it emerges therefrom; a pusher plate. movable through said hODDe'I fOI' pushing said stood -stufi through said die, and an extension from; said pusher plate having'athreaded; outer. endztor cooperating withsaid threaded portion" f:..said shaft to move said pusher plate-throughisaid hopper on rotation of said shaft.

2. Apparatus for processingfood stuff; such: as meat, comprising, in combination axhopperrfor receiving the food stuff, a. die at onesend of: the hopper through which thexfoodt stuffji is: pressed, a'shaft rotatably mounted in said hopper and exposed to the interior: thereof and. extending through and beyond the: otherend'thereoi the portion of said'shaft extending from said'hopper being threaded for a 'distance..'about..'equal'tbrthe length of said hopper Withzthe portion ot-said shaft within. said hopper: being completely smooth, meansJrf-or: rotating said shaft; a .knif e carriedby said shaft: and rotatable therewith adjacent said die for cutting said :foods stulif: as it emerges. therefrom, apusherplate; movable throughsaid hopper for-pushing saidifood stuff through said. die, and atubular extension :from

said pusher plateprovidingla guideufor the portion of said-.shaftwithin said; hopper; and having the outer: end intiernallythreadedfor cooperating with said threaded portion of said shaft-gm move. said'pusher platehthrough said hopper on rotation of saidzshaft.

3. The invention. as set forth; in claim 2, wherein the pusher" plateisprovided: with: an aperture through which the; food-stuff maybe placed in the hopper; and: a closure. for": said aperture.

4, The invention, "as set forth in: c1a:im- 2, wherein theknife has a 'piurali-ty of radially-projecting blades with each being unequally; spaced Withrespect to. the next'adjacentbladeson op- 8 pbsite sides thereof. to distribute the: cutting action: thereof; and; thereby reduce the". torque .re-

quiredlto rotateithe'shait 5i i Apparatus; for processing. food stuiT'; such 'assmeat, comprising, in combination, ahopper for receiving the food stuff, a "die. at 0131616116.. of the'xhopper' through which the food. stuff. is pressed,.a;shaftl. rotatably mounted in said hopperrandaextendin'g through and beyondithex other errdithereoficneans: for rotating saidishaft; a knifezcarriedi by said shaft and rotatable there- WithLadjacent :said die for cutting said food-stuff as it emerges therefrom, aniarm meansriextending radially from and rotatabletwith;saidshaft inside said." hopper adjacent said-die, a roller carriedrby eachiarm withits axis of rotationzparallel thereto. on the side adjacentsaidldie for pushing the. food: stuff. into: and through-said'die, aipus'h'er, plate. movable through said. hopper for pushing: said food. stufi toward said: rollers. and die; 'and dcooperating. threaded means on said shaft andpusher platefor' moving the latter through said hopper'on rotation of the former.

' EUGENE V. TAYLOR.

REFERENCES" CITED The following references are of record 'in' th file'of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS .Norway Oct. 15; 1966 

